Socrates

By: Sou P & Marianne G

Socrates

By: Sou P & Marianne G

Socrates' Personal Life (470-399BC)

Socrates was the son of a sculptor and a midwife as later he served with quality in the Athenian army during Athens’ clash with Sparta. He was married to Xanthippe but had a tendency to fall in love with handsome young men, in particular a young soldier named Alcibiades. We know of his life through the writings of his students, including Plato and Xenophon. His "Socratic method," laid the groundwork for Western systems of logic and philosophy. When the political climate of Greece turned, Socrates was sentenced to death by Hemlock poisoning in 399 BC. He accepted this judgment rather than fleeing from his death.

Socrates

Xanthippe

Alcibiades

Socrates

Xanthippe

Alcibiades

The Impact made by Socrates

Good

Socrates believed that women and men had the same capabilities. Socratic philosophy method clarified the concepts of good and justice and is also designed to help examine someone's own beliefs and evaluate their worth.

Bad

Because of Socrates philosophies young men began to go home and retaliate against their fathers and go against the tradition of fathers teaching their sons. Though it isn’t said people believed that Socrates intention was to throw off the stability of the city by getting rid of traditions.

The Impact made by the Event on the Society or Period

Socrates was morally, intellectually and politically against the Athenians. When he was on trial for corrupting the mind of young Athenians he explained that while they are worried about their families and careers, they would better be worried about the 'welfare of their souls'. He also questioned the Sophistic guideline (virtue can be taught) and argued that successful fathers don’t necessarily produce successful sons and that moral excellence was more a matter of a gift than parental education.

Socrates was convinced that our souls (where virtues and vices are found) are vastly more important for our lives than our bodies or external circumstances. The quality of our souls decides the character of our lives, for better or for worse, much more than whether we are healthy or sick, or rich or poor. If we are to live well and happily, as he assumed we all want to do more than we want anything else, we must place the highest priority on the care of our souls.